As you’ve no doubt heard from an old sage, speed limits are just that; a limit, not a target, but apart from very few locations, there’s nothing about minimum speed limits (marked with a circular blue sign with white numerals).
Many drivers believe that ‘slow is safe’ regardless of conditions or traffic, but recent figures released by the Department for Transport show that road crash casualties due to excessively low speeds increased by almost a third in 2017; 175 injuries and two fatalities.
The AA warns us that “driving like a snail can be every bit as dangerous as driving too fast”, they also go on to say that perhaps part of the problem may be the record number of elderly drivers on the roads – almost five million over 70, with more than 100,000 over 90.
The effect of driving slowly
This isn’t the driving style associated with hypermiling, being courteous or even safe motoring; driving excessively slowly brings further hazards – bringing confusion to other drivers, the possibility of forcing erratic manoeuvres through frustration, slowing traffic up, even cases of road rage.
A poll by Hyundai revealed that someone driving too slowly is the 7th most common reason why drivers swear when behind the wheel and that nearly 1/3 of all respondents have had a near miss caused by someone driving too slowly. 60% of motorists say their stress levels raise when stuck behind someone driving too slowly, and about half of them are tempted to undertake.
It’s deemed that serious that the Police could charge you with Inconsiderate or Careless Driving, the maximum penalty for which is a £5,000 fine and 9 penalty points. As further evidence as to just how dimly it’s looked upon, driving too slowly is the tenth most common reason for a driving test failure, with examiners viewing it as a lack of confidence or skill.
While there are some exceptions, a national minimum speed limit has never been introduced, although some motoring organisations believe that a minimum limit could have a beneficial effect on traffic flow, although in reality that seems unlikely – where there is a minimum limit in place currently, it’s low, usually 20 mph.
What can you do?
Driving slowly can be viewed as a great stress-buster, it also helps to save your licence from any speeding problems, and with no safety judgement or discretion from ‘safety’ cameras, it’s no surprise that some motorists are taking that option. It’s when they take it too far that it becomes a problem.
As with most incidents of poor driving, the best advice is to distance yourself from it, and while the option to slow down further may not be that viable, you should look to ways of clearing it, perhaps by taking another route (where possible). It’s been shown that middle-lane hoggers on motorways are a particular threat or nuisance.
There is no easy solution to the problem – introducing a minimum limit could further exacerbate traffic problems, and of course, policing it would be difficult, that’s before we get to dwindling police numbers.
It’s worth noting that some safety campaigners believe that “speed limits are rarely safe to travel at”, and their advice is to “slow right down” in all conditions, on all roads. Perhaps it’s these campaigners that are part of the problem?
Speed kills
While understanding that excessive speed is indeed dangerous, there is an argument for appropriate speed, and that argument should work both ways; lower speeds don’t necessarily mean appropriate speed. With that said, there is a disproportionate divide between the two when it comes to statistics – 175 injuries attributable to excessively low speed, opposed to nearly 20,000 injuries for speeding.
Defining ‘low speed’ is difficult, what constitutes a risk to some motorists, may be acceptable to others, the definition of Inconsiderate Driving is that the accused must have driven in a manner that inconvenienced others, whether that results in an accident or not. What this means, in reality, is that any driver accused of such behaviour should be able to give a reasonable account as to why they were driving in such a manner.
It’s clear that this is a traffic violation that causes frustration and anger, but perhaps driver education is better than punishment; with speed awareness courses being deemed appropriate for motorists caught just over the limit, why not introduce a course for dangerously low-speed driving?
Have you been stuck behind someone driving too slowly? Do you feel that there is an argument for minimum speed limits with enforcement cameras? Or is this just another tax? Let us know in the comments.
i think any driver at 70 should undergo a refreshment driving course then again every 5 years i understand that driving at 70 plus years is acceptable a lot as changed since they passed and a refresher would be a good idea
Great idea John, I assume you’ll be volunteering to pay for my course.
UK residents are routinely living to 100 now, and in the future, it is predicted that people born today can expect to live to 100. Are we really going to allow centenarians to drive with no confirmation of their skills?
Since driving is a privilege and not a right, we all have to earn and continue to justify, our right to drive. If you’re convicted of a DUI, you have to re-take your test to prove you are a fit and proper person: As we age, there’s no argument that our faculties degrade, so there must be an argument for asking people over a certain age to confirm they still retain the abilities to control a moving projectile. If one can afford today’s fuel, insurance and servicing charges, then paying for a test or retraining course won’t be overly onerous.
Cars will all be automated by then. Will the “driver” still need to be licenced?
Why over 70s c**p drivers come in all ages.
I think anyone who writes an unpunctuated, ungrammatical comment should undergo a refreshment (sic) English course. Nothing has changed since they were at school, but they were clearly not paying attention.
Comma on, give him a break
While we live in a society where a car is a lifeline people are going to carry on driving even when they are not as capable as they were.
Maybe there could be solutions, yes, some sort of assessment and instruction, cars that take away some of the multitasking (lights, wipers, cameras that read speed limits and warn when the car in front is slowing). Better public transport. Maybe a voucher for free delivery of groceries for those who give up their licence due to age.
The older person is probably the last to realise or accept that they should stop.
I’m nearly 70, been driving constantly for 5 decades, driven a million miles or more so it stands to reason..I must be out of touch and need retrained! Ha ha..Yeah, nice one mate.
I am also nearly 70. I have driven since I was 18. All the accidents that were my fault were due to lack of judgement, speeding and tail-gating. Most were in the first 10 years. Then I learnt better. Only 1 ever speeding ticket – though probably more by luck to tell the truth. Thankfully no-one was ever injured, though again perhaps more by luck than judgment.
Do I now drive slowly – sadly no! Do I tail gate? (Do I look like an idiot?) If the person wants to drive slower than me – so what! Traffic lights ahead – “speed up, I will get though them – they had only just gone red, officer”. Utter nonsense. For 45 years I have lived in London – 40 years ago I learnt missing one light costs one minute, being in an accident costs days.
Would I pass an Advanced Drivers course? I doubt it! (I still have difficulty in reversing and 3-point turns). But am I a safe considerate driver? Ask my insurance company – maximum no claims for over 30 years despite still driving almost every day! And just in case you ask – NO I do not cause accidents either!
Best thing I ever did was pass an Advanced drivers course with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (I.A.M).It certainly made me look ahead more and I could tell a lot sooner what other Motorists intended to do. Highly recommend to any driver whatever age.
Absolutely agree!
Thats a perfect example of being able to stop SAFELY within the distance you can see to be clear.
IF you were taught by the right person (member of the I.A.M.) then you were taught the I.A.M .way in the first place. I know I was.
Spot on Rob 🙂
I do this anyway. I’m always looking at least 3 or more cars ahead. You don’t need to have advanced motoring lessons for that.
I think half the time I know what the car in front of me, or the lane next to me is about to do before its driver does, Certainly with some drivers on the motorway, catching up the car in front of them, then wondering what to do next !!!!
You do need to have ESP half the time with some people but the worst culprits are the drivers who camp out in any lane but the inside lane when it is clear. Especially frustrating when they are doing the same speed or less than the cars on the lanes around them.
The law to punish motorists for hogging the middle lane, and outside too, really needs to be enforced but the problem is there’s so few patrols to do it as speed cameras have taken priority over everything else required to make our roads safer
Three or four cars ahead, you should be looking the road ahead as far ahead as you can see to be clear,, this is much more than three cars ahead of you. Approved D.O.T.D.I
Too far ahead, then not watching what is right in front of you! Be careful and watch ALL around, near- far-sides AND rear.
agree, should be compulsory for all drivers, with regular retests. driving quality will increase for all, making roads safer everywhere
I took the IAM course many years ago and I remember being told that on open roads you are expected to ‘make progress’, in other words don’t dawdle. If you haven’t the confidence to progress at a speed appropriate to the local limit, then you should not be driving.
DaveB…..making progress was maybe all well and fine many moons ago when petrol was dirt cheap and nobody gave a toss about pollution or if they got 35mpg or merely 28mpg but got to their destination 10 minutes faster by driving on the motorways or dual carriageways at 70mph… I was one of them back then.
Today with the extortionate cost lof fuel I’m now more interested in getting the maximum mpg out of my journey and if that means taking a bit longer to get there then that’s a price I’m willing to pay … The fact I’m creating slightly less pollution is a slight bonus
Peter your a tight wad holding everyone up, bet you take a dump at work to save bog paper costs to? Modern cars go better to the gallon at 70 now, manufactures gave more gears to keep the revs down and more streamlined body’s for best fuel economy. I know a truck firm slowed their wagons to 50mph trying to save fuel but found out they did 3 mpg better at 56mph because the manufacture set it up that way. If you look in your hand book and find were max power and torque cross see what speed your at in top, you’ll be surprised it will be 85-90mph. This is were your car will do best to the gallon. UK roads are to slow.
Having completed a speed awareness course and trying to keep to the speed limit of roads in town and country I still find drivers tailgating and generally showing impatience with me.The problem is with motorists who disregard limits and want to drive really fast no matter what . I appreciate the need to get to the next appointment or job as quickly as you can but this isn’t always compatible with National speed limits.
Me too! I usually stick to the limit or 5-10% less after my speed awareness course. I have never felt endangered by a slower driver, just the idiots who tailgate/roar past as I’m doing 39 in a 40 (and I have mentally adjusted the indicated speed gased on comparing it with several GPS devices, so I know its 39!)
Driving at 39 in a 40 limit is justified as you’re keeping up and within the speed limit but, when someone is driving at 20 in a 30 zone you are not keeping up with the traffic but, holding it up and that’s when the frustration kicks in and other drivers get irate. I have also done a speed awareness course and there is nothing more annoying than being stuck behind an uber car doing 20 in a 30 zone and he/she doesn’t now where they’re going because they have no knowledge and rely on the Sat nav and that’s in the early hours of the morning.
There are circumstances where 20 in a 30 may be inappropriate. Exercise more patience.
Yes, there frequently are circumstances when a lower speed might be appropriate, fog, heavy rain, etc, but the discussion here is about inappropriate slowness. Keep up – in both senses!
I agree, Pete, as well as the occasional idiotic Private Hire driver there are many other idiots relying on their ‘sat nav’ and failing to signal their intention to change speed or direction. They might know where they are going but the rest of us don’t.
then just keep your distance – to give you enough time and space to react
There might be a bloody good reason why someone has to do 20 in a 30.
Yes.that reason is a slower brain.
Poor vision or drunk.
Our village has a 30 mph speed limit however with the narrow roads, parked cars, no pedestrian footpath driving that 30 during the day is inconsiderate, I am getting old and aware of possible criticism so I have taken ROSPA (Gold pass) 9 years and IAM I drive 30k per year but we are inundated with people who drive to the speed limit rather then to the conditions
You say it all when you write about driving to the conditions. The whole road and environment is more important than the sign saying 30/40/National.
Would it be more safe for the slower driver in front, who is not sure of the area, to be driving at the appropriate speed limit and then suddenly brake in front of you when they realise they want to turn left or right at the last moment, surly that is more of a danger to the impatient driver/drivers following behind. In the early hours of the morning there is less traffic, thus making overtaking the slower vehicle more safely.
You can’t overtake with speed bumps and traffic islands every 100 yards, even in the early hours.
Anybody that finds at the last minute that they need to turn left or right AND have traffic CLOSE behind them, should continue forward and prepare to turn at another junction and then do an about turn in a lower traffic area and return to their junction knowing then in advance so that they can indicate and appropriately slow and make the turn,
Best advice if you are too late to turn safely if you pass you turning is to carry on and pullover when safe to do so-let the road clear the turn around and go back now that you know where you are going.
Tuff. If you are likely to miss your turning then you should just carry on to the next convenient point at which you can safely take appropriate action.
why don’t they pull over and let the vehicle behind pass especially if they’re lost or looking for somewhere ??
Just because there is 30mph limit does not mean you have to travel at this speed. It might be but alright depending on the conditions…. there is usually a reason for the restriction. ie road safety considerations, concealed entrances, children playing. etc. Try to think: right gear, right speed and right place on the road.
I failed a pre lim bus driving test for driving at 30 in a 40 zone, he said i was holding up the traffic behind and not keeping up with the traffic in front. Who’s right and who’s wrong!
Peter, your intructor/examiner was right, unless there was a particular reason to keep to 30 (and he would have seen this) then you should have tried to keep up with the flow of other traffic. ( Ex Bus Driver myself, now 74 and lost PSV/PCV licence due to a heart attack at age of 68 )
Sorry to hear that Colin, hope you’re keeping well. My fault when I had that test is because he ask me if we could carry a passenger colleague to drop off at some point who’s phone rang twice whilst I was driving and it somewhat unnerved me. I think i should’ve ask the passenger to get out and asked to start the test again. I think that if he refused I would’ve reported the incident to his boss. Any thoughts on this Colin?
Well put IAN,
Are you saying that if you don’t know where you are going, ie in a strange town, that you should not be driving? Sat Nav’s are safer than maps
What’s even more annoying are those that do 40mph in a 60 but then continue to do that same 40mph when they get to a 30 zone!
Love those people that just do one speed – everywhere!
I agree entirely, it’s the drivers on 60 and 70 roads going 20 miles below speed limit with no cars in front of them, I’m almost 70 and if I couldn’t drive at the speed limit when I should, then I’d give up driving, because it’s really frustrating being behind someone not driving appropriately, I’ve seen people take risks just to get past them.
Some of us like to see what is going on around use as passengers when being driven and the driver to beable to slow down if needed. potholes are the worst thing on the roads .Also some cars are not stable at high speeds we have a Jimney Suzuki which is not stable in any wind at speed.the roads are not just for getting from a-b as fast as possible,poeple are in too much of a rush and do not leave enough time for travel.
if that heap of jappo cr**o is not stable in wind at any speed then it should not be on the road, scrap the heap of junk
change your noddy car for something more appropriate then
Agree. Please see my above comment.
The speed limit is just that. Not what you should drive at, but the maximum speed, only if the traffic and road conditions allow it. No place does it say you should drive at this speed.
We have a stretch of the A38 near us where the limit goes through 60/50/30/50/60 in the space of less than a mile and I reckon about 50% of drivers just do 40-45 through the whole lot! It is very frustrating being behind one through a 60/50 zone only to reach the 30 and find they’re pulling away from you only for you to catch up with them again in the next 50/60 zone – totally oblivious to the current limit and what speed they are actually doing.
Jack, that is so right, and there are lots of them on the roads.
I totally agree with you as it is annoying, and I’ve been told by Gosafe (speed camera operator) to fix a dash cam and if any driver drive slow at 40 in a 60 and continue to drive 40 in a 30 all I need is sent in the video clip and they can be fined (as long you keep to 30 in 30 or you also get a fine for driving at 40).
When i was taking driving lessons in the ’70’s my driving instructor got angry with me for not keeping up with the traffic. I was doing 30 in a 30 zone and the row of cars infront was doing 35.
All of us at some point will have to navigate unfamiliar roads. Impatience helps nobody.
Then you may be one of the ones going too slow. The speedo in your car always shows a speed slightly higher than your actual speed, so if it shows 30 mph then you are doing 27 or 28. That is required by law. So driving at an indicated 30 in a 30 limit means you are not speeding but doing 5-10% less anyway. If you drive at an indicated 27 then you are probably doing 24 or 25 mph – causing frustration behind you as you are going too slow, assuming the traffic and conditions allow.
If, as you say, it’s required by law that all speedometers are showing 30 when you’re actually doing 27/28 mph, then surely all drivers are being fooled at the same time, so this wouldn’t result in (relatively) slow driving since other drivers would see the same issue.
However, having just changed my car, I know my new car’s speedometer is almost 100% accurate as I have compared it to the GPS speed on an a separate satnav (my old car did as you suggest have the 10% difference when compared the same way).
It might be accurate now, how will it be when the tyres are 75% worn?
With new tyres to vehicle manufacturer’s specifications my actual speed was 22mph against an indicated 30mph and that was on one of the most common saloons around.
The answer is that tyres at the legal limit will make the speedo read very approximately 2% faster than new tyres 😉
Wrong way round. The speedo reads the rotation speed and with new tyres the wheels are rotating slightly slower than with worn tyres. Thus the meter reading is lower.
Yes that is true Ken.. The correct way round
Almost 100% accurate is not 100% is it, also as your tyres wear you will be travelling slightly slower than that indicated.
VERY slightly!
Too much trust is put in the accuracy of sat navs regarding speed. There are a number of factors that can actually make them pretty inacurate. Rain, fog, falling snow, buildings, trees, and most importantly, the number of satelites your device is comunicating with at any one time. It’s not just one satelite as many people believe. Sat navs work on triangulation. The more that can see your device, the more accurate the information received. Many sat navs allow you to access the information that allows you to see how many satelites your device is in contact with. You will be surprised at the variation over quite a short distance.
If they are working on triangulation then they are receiving at least three signals and that should be enough to determine speed.
No it’s not required by law.
The Speedo is allowed to overstate by upto 10% so doing 33 would be 30 but it’s not allowed by law to understate so showing 30 but doing 33 is a no no.
Mike I have a brand new vehicle which has 2 Speedos and I also use a Sat nav and they all say the same speed. When I got done for speeding 60 in a 50 zone on the motorway at 3 in the morning and I was doing 60. That was in a old vehicle. We can always argue the point that the cameras aren’t calibrated properly.
2 speedoss? What car comes fitted with two speedos
Majority of Uk drivers have 2 Speedos.
Slow and very slow.
My van has two speeds. Super fast forward and geronimo backwards! 😂
A lot of cars have a digital display and a conventional speedo dial
At that point t a bit pointless arguing, if you vehicle is clearly travelling in excess of 10mph above the proscribed limit, you clearly broke the speed limit and hopefully you were chastised accordingly. These forums and discussions always fall to the same elements, Our lack of care and consideration of our fellow drivers, people going to slow or going to fast. On any road there is no proscribed low limit simple and as long as your driving is not causing an obstruction of the highway you are actually free to travel at whatever speed you wish below the speed limit, and if that means pulling over to let the flow of traffic pass, But may I take this opportunity to highlight, the other majorly slow driving, the bane of all existence tractors and agricultural machinery, that the drivers of which knowingly can see the tailbacks they are causing and go ahead and pass safe places to pull over, layby etc. and just continue on.
Well there speedo would be showing the same,so what’s the problem?
My BMW is only 1mph slow at 30mph and 2mph out at 70mph according the the sat nav, so quite accurate. I know not all models are as accurate.
An under-reading speedo now is rare. In older cars they were common to give a false indication and encourage sales. Anyone overtaking dangerously and blaming the car being overtaken is an idiot.
Except when the driver you are overtaking is going slower than the speed limit, but decidesthey don’t want you to pass them, and speeds up as you overtake.
My rule of thumb is that the man in front is an idiot, the man behind is a maniac, anyone overtaking me is blind. Basically what I am saying is “watch out – anything can happen”. And yes, man must here encompass woman for brevity.
Exactly, I’ve got a fairly new car. And at a speedo indicated 30 the GPS shows a fluctuating 29-30 and at 60 the GPS shows a locked 59, the days of cars always under reporting the speed by a significant margin are long gone.
Safest bet, do 3-4 mph under the limit then no one will have a problem.. If they do they are probably a fool and should get done for speeding when they fly past doing 40 in a 30.
If you do 3-4 mph under and the Speedo is 2-3 under as in most cars then you’d be doing 6-7 mph under speed limit and I would definitely be looking for a safe opportunity to overtake after a few choice swear words
Construction and use regulations state a speed must be accurate to plus or minus 10%. This is to tyre wear and tyre pressure variations. This is why most speed cameras are set at 10% +1mph above the limit. When you read about zero tolerance policy then it’s plus zero.
“The UK law is based on the EU standard, with some minor changes. A speedo must never show less than the actual speed, and must never show more than 110% of actual speed + 6.25mph.”
I was fined for doing 33mph in a 30 limit in Hull city, so if your theory is right about speedo’s being more than the actual speed then i was doing 30 and should not have been reported, also means that the camera was wrong
No, if you were fined for doing 33 then you were doing 33. Your speedo probably showed 35/36. They don’t cling onto the side of your car to have a look at what your speedo says before they do you.
Your council trying to raise money.Disgraceful abuse of power
You were probably doing 31
The speedometer error is 10% plus or minus, so you could be doing 33 MPH.
NO!!!! A speedo must NOT understate actual speed – no plus or minus about it
Which section of the road traffic act says the speedo must read slower than actual speed?
I would like to read the wording of this section
A small point of order Mike, it isn’t a requirement that speedometers read faster than the actual speed. The requirement is that they are accurate to a tolerance of 0 to +10% Most read fast but not often by as much as10% just about all the vehicles I have had in the last 20 years have been within +5% 😉
What a tool, that’s why there is a 10% allowanc, you don’t need to mentally adjust anything, drive to the road conditions, you should be looking at the road ahead and concentrating on that, you can still have an accident or knock someone over whilst looking at the speedo @39mph
Riding motorcycles for over fifty years has taught me to look well in advance and ride/drive defensibly. Mind you, there are some idiot motorcyclists on the road.
Ditto!
I agree Mike but we are looking at drivers who are driving at below the speed limit.
Speed awareness course?
When travelling at near 3 miles per minute (yes, that’s incredibly fast), I cannot help but be aware of speed.
Please don’t assume that happens on UK public roads though.
More pertinently, I have found various advanced course have helped me stay within urban limits. I advocate advanced training to keep myself out of danger and performance driving and riding courses to give me the skills to get out of danger should the former fail.
Back on topic, the disparity of road user skills is problematic but always remembering no one is perfect helps and good driving begins with a good attitude.
I find the myopic dogma of ‘road safety’ group BRAKE to be particularly unhelpful to improving attitudes and safety. It is much more complex than simply speed.
I fully agree about the problem. That said please read my comment about car speedometers being (wildl)y wrong such as 30mph being 22mph in one case.
.. I was taught to and try to leave at least 2 long seconds behind the vehicle in front and much longer in adverse conditions
If there is a car GENUINELY doing 22 when showing 30 then that car has a serious problem! Something we haven`t been told! Was it a 1962 Morris 1000? Cable driven speedo rather than electronic?
At least double in adverse weather conditions
Me too
Better to stick to the limit and arrive, than speed up and not arrive at all.
If only this were the case
I remember an anti-drink-driving campaign from a few years ago: better late than dead on time..
The thing is, cars are lighter faster and have better acceleration than vehicles of forty years ago and people like to take advantage of that. I have owned a Triumph TR4a for forty six years, back then it was considered a fast car. Now small engined cars with turbos like to show me how fast they can go. Luckily I never got a speeding ticket during that time. Had a near miss on the A45 going into Coventry one night, I was pushing about 100 mph down the dual carriageway when I spotted blue lights about 400 yards behind. I pushed the car to it’s limit 115 mph on the clock but slowed down to 40 mph when I reached that speed restriction. The nice policeman pulled me over and told me that he was doing over a 100 mph and that I was pulling away from him. He was alone and said he couldn’t book me because the speedo in his car wasn’t calibrated to correctly register my speed. I had a ticking off and that was that.
Wish you had got banned for life. Irresponsible, wreckless driving at best on an A road.
I couldn’t agree more. It is accepted that LGVs are likely to e traveling at arou d 56 m p h. due to speed limiters. But it is unacceptable for motorists to be travelling at 40 or 45 mph. They are a hazard to everybody, causing LGVs to frequently have to change lanes to maintain progress. Weather and road conditions permitting, normal progress is to drive at the maximum speed permitted an the road in use, for the vehicle being driven!
Load of rubbish. So it’s to be 30 in a 30, regardless of other conditions? Classic cars that can’t do that are to be banned? Try leaving home earlier, give yourself more time and drive slower. You might be surprised how much more relaxed you are when you arrive at your destination. And much money you might find yourself saving.
Rubbish! I’m sick of crawling up nearby long, windy hill in 2nd gear at 20 mph, especially in dry, daylight conditions. Without overcautious drivers in front, any car could ascend nearly all the way in 4th or 5th, with a downchange to 3rd for last bit, if necessary for some. It’s not a dangerous road, visibility is good with no intersections. It’s just some drivers can’t manage a bend in the road, so slow everybody down to crawl speed on this NSL road.
PS, driving 1.5 miles in 2nd gear isn’t saving anybody’s money, not so great for the air quality, either.
Unfortunately too many regard driving at the speed limit as being “too slow”. How do you define “driving too slowly”?
driving on a straight road you should be prepared to do 60 providing the conditions allow. If you dont feel able to drive at 60, then should you be driving at all?
the ones who get on my t1ts are the ones who brake randomly for no reason. why do people do that?
Maybe because you are driving up their bootlid?
The ones who brake randomly are usually automatic gearbox drivers who brake because there is no engine braking with automatics
I think you should know that engine braking is available on the vast majority of automatic gearboxes. It MAY be necessary to use the shift lever to put it into a lower gear, but the vehicle I drive downshifts itself when the throttle is closed to give more braking.
I am driving my fourth automatic – over 30 years. None had appreciable engine braking, yet I use my brake less than many others simply because I anticipate: Ease off when approaching traffic – what is the point of getting to the next hold-up 1 second sooner?. No I do not crawl at 20 in a 30 zone! (Should I admit to exceeding the speed limit when the road ahead is completely clear?) I learnt years ago – only idiots tail-gate. On motorways I am often astonished at drivers who zoom down the outside lane until they are right up the backside of the car in front then brake hard! Why? all they achieve is the cars behind brake and the ripple effect results in slower traffic. If you don’t know even speeds = better throughput, why do they have variable speed limits on motorways? No it is NOT “just to slow me down!” As to single carriage ways – empty, long and straight – 60 easy. Twisty lanes with blind corners, 20 is too fast.
Moral – learn how to drive with consideration to all other road users!
Possibly because you are tailgating?
Perhaps we should be willing to tolerate others who see things differently.
Maybe the person driving below the limit is new to the road and you or no one else should expect them to drive at your speed choice! They need to drive at their choice for safety etc:
I could question whether you should be driving at all, if you cannot understand this concept!
Why do you have to drive at the national limit? I personally tend to drive at 50 but keep to the left so I can be overtaken. If you’re early, and perhaps I leave a cautious amount of time to get places because of driving conditions, is it not allowed to drive slower to enjoy the journey instead of always being at higher concentration, because that’s what’s needed the faster you go?
For a bend in case there is something blocking the road round it – as there is at time here in Cheshire.
Probably because they are being tailgated, for NOT reaching your TARGET speed.
They do it because they lack confidence. Green light coming up? Brake. Going uphill? Brake. Someone coming the other way? Brake. They are usually old dodderers who drive the way they walk; they shouldn’t be allowed on the roads at all.
And you should go back to Norway.
And you should get back to the abottoir ( sleeping on a blind bend will help ) 🙂
I often travel at 60 on the motorway but some think this too slow.
Having held several occupational licences over a 40 year driving career what people don’t realise is why I should be doing this ?
I’m taking into account the time of day I am travelling , the flow of traffic , road conditions , weather and driving accordingly with appropriate space for stopping distance.
If all others can see is a speed limit not reached and a gap to jump into then they should re evaluate their own driving skills before critisisng others.
Why do you drive at 60 on a motorway??? Unless there are reasons, ie weather conditions or speed limits reduced for road works etc, why??? If you can’t drive at 70mph, stay off the motorways. You are definitely part of the problem of slow drivers!!!
60mph is not slow on the motorway. As long as the driver is not lane-hogging and in the correct lane then it is perfectly ok. Everyone does not have to drive at 70mph!
IIRC most lorries are governed to 90kph (About 56mph) so if you drive at 60mph in the inside lane on a motorway you should be causing no more problem than the lorries …
Another totally inappropriate attitude about speed choice!
Read my post…..60 for a reason so deffinitely not a problem.
You are the problem taking action before reading the post properly like you take inappropriate action in your vehicle before reading the road.
I’d drive at 60 for the darned good reason of saving fuel! You must have too much money.
Why should you stay off the motorway because you drive at 60, 70 is the maximum speed limit. This doesn’t mean you have GOT to drive at that speed all the time. Perhaps if people gave themselves more time to get to their destination they wouldn’t need to tailgate. I have been tailgated when I am towing my Caravan the trouble is some people don’t realise that people towing on single carriage ways and motorways cannot do the National speed limit.
If everybody drove at 70 mph then legally nobody should be passing any other vehicle or they would be classed as speeding + if you are trapped in the inside lane you have no choice and 70mph is a max not a min drive with common sence
Is this 60 in the outside lane or in the the trunks doing 56
I drive over 22,000 miles per year for work activities. I have encountered my fair share of slow drivers – driving slow for no apparent reason. I have seen quite a few near misses by those who have to overtake because they need to meet a deadline including me. I did have a theory that the slowness of the driver could be attributable to their poor eyesight and very slow reactions ?. I know a couple of drivers in their late 80’s who refuse to give up despite accidents they have had – apparently it would remove their independence ???. Slow vehicles without any obvious reason (tractor, large commercial vehicles, etc etc ) adds enormous frustration to the queuing traffic following them, with risky overtaking going to happen. I have to keep to speed limits because my vehicle is speed monitored very closely.
I agree with you about the problem of elderly drivers needing to get around. I have often wondered if a plate with an E on it like the L plate would be a Good idea. To say please be patient i am not as young as I was. By the way I am 78 and do try to drive just below the limit
Spot on. Recently had eye test (as a MIAM I do this yearly). Male person looked a bit older than me (I am 64) to friend. “Optician says I need new glasses and should not drive until I have them, load of rubbish just trying to get money from me”,
10 minutes later watched him get into car in car park and drive off !!
Noticeable as | followed him that he left it till last minute to move out around parked vehicles sat at junctions when road clear, then pulled out when there was an oncoming vehicle !!
Unarguably due to vision or lack thereof and sadly not illegal.
Ian, slow vehicles without obvious reason? You gave it, tractors can only do 30 mph an heavy trucks don’t fire off like f1 cars! Any way c**p car drivers who get right behind slow vehicles can’t see to get past an follow them for miles, other problem is modern cars with all the power of a wet fart, 1ltr Mondeo anyone? The other day coming out of Helmsley in Yorkshire I past 12 cars in one go who were following a wagon for miles an not one person bothered to over take although the straight road with no side roads for 1.8 miles at least.
You shouldn’t be driving too fast because you have a deadline. Start out earlier.
It’s hardly surprising that all this emphasis on speed has given some drivers the impression that slower is always safer. I wouldn’t be surprised that there are drivers out there that think that following the speed limit is the only thing that makes you are good driver. I’ve certainly come across people that drive like that.
Taken to its ridiculous conclusion, if vehicles didn’t move at all they wouldn’t collide with each other. However that defeats the object of having them.
Well the article hasn’t said what actually is low speed – I travel on a road which has lots of different speed limits but is very difficult to overtake on and I have witnessed an accident due to tailgating then overtaking ! I agree it is very frustrating being behind a car that is travelling slower than you want to go – I was stuck behind a digger just yesterday, I felt pressured by the huge queue behind me and the lovely vehicle trying to get into my boot, to overtake which I did at a decent speed but was probably not the best decision – had the manoeuvre gone wrong it would have not being because of the slow vehicle but because of MY decision to be pressured by the tailgater!
Maybe people need to just leave a decent gap between their car and the one in front and then perhaps traffic would flow better.
Simple and maybe safer solution increase the gap between you and the slower vehicle in front thereby inviting the tail water to pass at the first possible opportunity. Leave enough space and it should be relatively safe.
Sensible view in many occasions.
When you join a queue behind a slower vehicle for any reason for any length of time, sit back a few car lengths, then the impatient drivers have a safety slot to pull into when they overtake & misjudge oncoming traffic and reduces the pressure on YOU to overtake when you feel it’s unsafe.
Yep. In fact, in NZ there are signs everywhere telling drivers to move over to allow people to pass and that is just what occurs. It’s part of their mindset to allow others to get on with their journeys and not inconvenience them by hindering them unnecessarily.
Here, people deliberately put their foot down when you try to get past and then slow right down again. Stupid, selfish and downright dangerous. It’s one of the main things that makes my p**s boil driving in the UK.
And for that reason it is a criminal offence in the UK, just not enforced enought.
Have you driven in other countries too, I dislike these comparisons of country to country, there are things everywhere that differ, but righteousness doesn’t help.
Problem is that they are so close that they can’t see ahead to do so. Often they wait until they get to a blind bend and then choose to overtake so that they can tail gate the car in front of me. Frightens the hell out of me for the possible vehicle coming the other way with a car full of children. Drivers who tail-gates should be banned for first offence in my view.
The highway code states ‘leave room in front for an overtaking vehicle’, but the test now is a multi-guess exam that is often taken by somebody else in your place.
Some people will drive slower than others. The solution is lane discipline on the motorways. For single lane roads, there should be a law, I believe some states in the US has it, to force people to pull over and let the cars behind to pass if there is a queue of 5 or more vehicles.
due care and consideration for other road users
Even if they’re going at the speed limit..?
There wouldn’t be a queue behind you if you were driving at the speed limit
Lane discipline on motorways is indeed a frustration, with very few drivers moving back into the left-hand lane after overtaking. I often think the American system should be brought into play, where you can pass on both sides, but that doesn’t help on a single lane road of course. One of my driving principles is ‘don’t be an obstruction for the driver behind me’.
Ever since I passed my test way back in 1977 that’s something I’ve always done, more so if only out for a pleasure drive or in an area new to me, anytime I spot a que or even at times one car looking to pass me I pull in to allow them to pass safely … Might add at times 30 seconds or a minute onto my journey ever time I do it but it keeps me safe and hopefully them too
The speed at which some idiots drive, they would have failed the driving test as it was when I learnt to drive. The allowable range was -3 + 0 mph. Drive any slower, an providing there were not any vehicles obstructing you, would cost you 1 point every minute and eventually you would fail the test.
Reasonable speed would something approaching the speed limit in place, assuming that conditions allow, so most people would probably consider much more than 10mph below the limit to be low speed – think 20 in a 30 limit, 30 in a 40, etc. If anyone is travelling at much less than 60 on a reasonably and clear de-restricted motorway most people would consider that low speed I think
Yet another ‘speed target’ driver who assumes that their reason to drive at or near the speed limit is agreeable to most others.
Failing to see or manage hazards is common cause of a crash.
20 in some 30 limits is totally correct given the environment, but appreciating that is sometimes beyond some drivers,
Stupid from you then..
I see it all the time. It’s particularly dangerous when people don’t use entry slip lanes to match their speed onto motorways. Instead crawling onto a fast moving motorway at 40mph.
This in particular ‘drives’ me crazy. My daily commute involves joining a free-flowing dual-carriageway where the inside lane is usually at 60, if not more. So often, a car in front of me insists on crawling into the flow at 45, leaving me with nowhere to go. I can’t slow down to leave a bigger gap for obvious reasons, so I’m left playing frogger when I reach the feed-in – either braking hard or working the gears to get up to speed. I do try to be courteous, and I do try to drive at reasonable speeds to reduce my journey time without wasting petrol, so this enforced drag race really frustrates me.
I agree and have similar experience most days. If I see this coming I hang back, so that I can then match my speed to the traffic flow and blend in seamlessly, which is usually at or close to the speed limit of the road I am joining. How come people do’n’t realise this ?? I also dislike people who indicate right as soon as they join the slip road. I just makes me feel that they think they have the absolute right to join without even looking, at whatever speed they happen to be driving at. Indicators should be to used to indicate what you plan to do if you have a choice, joining from a filter lane is not really a choice it’s obvious what you are going to do.
Maybe the ‘flashing’ indicator alerts approaching drivers of an otherwise not noticed activity ahead, waking them up to a change of risk!
When I was learning in the ’70’s, indicating your intention to join from a feeder lane/slip road was called a’ courtesy indication’ and also gave the driver in the nearest lane to you a flashing warning to perhaps wake them up from reverie and allow them time to take stock of what was going on around them. Too many drivers these days consider indicators like we did in-car cigarette lighters back then, optional use extras.
Some slip roads have a really long run in. (eg Cribbs Causeway). Its good to know when the driver is going to attempt to make his move.
And many have next to no no run in at all….especially where a road or motorway has been widened to add a 3rd lane
My problem is the other way around – people who decide that if they are going at 60+ mph then they have an automatic right to pull out of the slip road onto the main carriageway regardless of whether there is a space for them or if someone already on the main road has to take evasive action.
Slip roads should give way – indeed I noticed in France last week that they have labour this point with big “Vous n’avez pas la priorité” signs. We’d do well to heed that in this country too.
that’s incorrect. The French are trying to stop their absolutely lethal custom of ‘priorite a droite’. I’ve stood on top of the Arc de Triomphe and seen it in all it’s glory – C’est incroyable !
I have never understood why people quote “give way to the right as the French do”. They drive on the right, we drive on the left – or had you not noticed!
What is wrong with: Motorways: 1. Give way to people joining from slip-roads – it is hard enough anyway. 2. Stay in the left-hand lane until you have got used to the speed of the traffic. 3. SIgnal in plenty of time all lane changes.
i.e.no cutting across lanes, in particular no speeding down the outside lane, cutting in at the last minute to cross to the exit – often across multiple lanes.
Have consideration for other road users! Remember speeding can never save more than a few minutes if you are honest. An accident cost hours in sorting it out, getting your car repaired, let alone the time to recover from injury or loss of life!
I don’t ever have difficulty joining from a slip road because I match my speed to the traffic already on the road. What you are suggesting is enabling incompetent and inconsiderate driving by people already too disconnected from the process of driving.
I simply cannot support any proposed action which will further the driving standards of people whose driving was once good enough for them to pass their test. This is the whole reason that slip roads and motorways are now part of driver training. It is already such a recognised problem that DVSA had to act.
That attitude makes sense as to why I have witnessed so many ‘nearlies’ at slip roads.
Philip, I may have misunderstood you. I am in complete agreement with your points 2 & 3. What I think you were meaning is traffic already on the road should allow traffic to join from the slip road, as per The Highway Code.
My initial comment was due to that I think your first comment is at odds with 2 & 3. I hope you won’t be so upset with my initial comment if you know I misunderstood you
“I can’t slow down to leave a bigger gap for obvious reasons” = you weren’t reading the road ahead nor showing due consideration for other road users.
If it’s busy and you know vehicles are having to merge from a slip road, of course they’re slower. Just ease off the gas, and you’ll be easing off your stress.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve slowed to allow a car to join from a slip road and the idiots have slowed down too, then as I speed up to pass they finally realise you’re letting them in and do the same thing….
Agreed! The onus is on the person joining the motorway to adjust their speed accordingly and give way to traffic but almost everyone these days expect the motorway driver to give way to them and then get annoyed when they don’t!
When I learnt to drive we were told to get upto motorway speed on slip and merge as soon as possible after the end of the solid line. But as the same time it was considered good driving practice (not law) to move from the left land to the middle lane when on the motorway and approaching an on slip.
That is correct, but I always try and anticipate where a driver joining from a slip road is going to be by the time they join the main carriageway, so take the appropriate action to make their joining safer, whether slowing down or speeding up to create the safe entry space, or moving to the lane to the right – as I hope others would do the same for me.
Drivers joining a motorway need plenty of space. I usually try to negotiate the entry points in the middle lane.
In this rural area I notice far more the tailbacks from a 15mph Cyclist. This causes a lot of frustration. The occasional slow driver is quite rare. I drive close to the speed limit excep when slowing to match a 40/30mph limit. so yes, I do drive more slowly when between villages only a few miles apart. When trying to spare a flattish tyre I hit the hazard flashers.
I noticed you were voted down (not by me). I think the reason is the first paragraph. Drivers should not need plenty of space (but they need space). The second part of “usually try to negotiate entry points in the middle lane” was probably what did it. From my experience it is that type of action which is too often completely unnecessary which causes a sea of brake lights in the following traffic. It impedes the progress of the other traffic.
I don’t have any predetermined manoeuvres. I take each case separately on its merits.
I think you are just trying to be careful and that’s way better than being involved in an accident but I can also see this from the point of view of someone who may feel their progress is being impeded.
I think this is perhaps a good illustration of different opinions which possibly come from varying levels of haste, ability (perhaps) and confidence.
I do not intend to be critical, BTW.
Of course, I may have got that all wrong and it could have been the bit about a “flattish tyre” and “hazard” lights.
Under pressure tyres can be very dangerous. I’ve known one to catastrophically fail in service after being correctly inflated after it was damaged by driving with it under-inflated.
I think the figures in this article tell the true story. Although it is frustrating to follow a vehicle going slower than you want to be travelling at (have you allowed enough time for your trip?), there is a less than 1% risk injury by going slowly as opposed to speeding 99% risk. No activity is risk free, so decision time, do you want to lessen your risk or increase it?
There’s also the slow and steady rural driver, doing 50 mph on a fast A road with a 60 mph limit, who then carries on at 50 mph when passing a village and the speed drops to 40 mph.
One of the roads that feeds into my village is a NSL rural road where it is difficult to overtake. On a morning commute there is no point in overtaking as you will be held up at the traffic lights at the other end, regardless of how fast you drive. The worst is the return journey at night or dusk, when some drivers travel at 30mph on the 60 road and immediately speed up to 50 or above as soon as they reach the village where the speed is 30! People often try to overtake at really inappropriate places just to vent their frustration. I understand that the new super bright halogen headlights are often difficult to avoid. I don’t understand why, if you feel uncomfortable driving at night, you wouldn’t invest in a pair of glare- reducing glasses or ant-glare coating on your specs! Or, if you really feel that uncomfortable, take the train.
Going too slowly is also ‘causing an obstruction’, which is, I think, also an offence under the RTA.
I understood that tinted night glasses are not legal. Anyone know the answer? ( actually know ; not just guessing or blaming the EU or whatever)
One of the main problems with headlights is that people are fitting LED “lamps” into reflectors and lenses designed for filament lamps. The filament lamp has just one bright spot and the reflectors and lenses are designed accordingly. The LED lamp has many light sources set around a central core. This used with a filament set up scatters light in all directions which is why they are illegal in the UK although still sold on Amazon.
My pet hate variation on this is what a call a “40-miler”, who won’t go above 40 on the open road and then continues at 40 through villages with 30 limits. Consistent I guess, but very unsafe and infuriating!
And is a criminal. 33% over the village speed limit
Having spent many an unhappy mile behind someone travelling at 50 on a nation speed limit (60) road, I believe that there is a significant number of people who think the limit is 50 on single carriageway and 60 on dual carriageway, or am I wrong?
Try the A536 near us. The delimited parts are 60mph but, as the 2nd most dangerous road in Britain, you’d be a fool to do 60. It’s too narrow and winding, the country lanes around us are theoretically 60 as well but they’re at most 1.5 cars wide so 25 is enough.
It is if you are in a van
I’m always intrigued by this sort of comment. Suppose you are stuck behind someone doing 50 when you want to do 60 for 10 miles (Not that that happens very often, but just suppose). You will cover those ten miles in 11 minutes 50 seconds instead of 10 minutes – in what way is taking that extra 110 seconds going to change your life?
Michael, your maths are almost right (10 miles @ 50 is 12 minutes not 11min50sec) but that’s not the whole picture. If there’s nothing in front of the car doing 50 and you have another 30 miles to do on the same road, by the time you get to the end of that 30 miles, assuming you could have overtaken it as soon as you got behind it, you would have saved 6 minutes including the 2 minutes for the first 10 miles you were talking about . Still not life changing admittedly but if you have a train or flight to catch……………….
If you are driving a van, yes you are. that is unless the van is a car derived van.
A lot of people do not know what a dual carriageway is and do not realise it is a 70. Although it’s at least 10 less in anything van sized or bigger.
I think you’re right tango28. I did a speed awareness course in 2005 and was absolutely gobsmacked at the ignorance among the other attendees regarding speed limits. We were divided into groups of 7-8 to complete a basic written test and one woman in my group argued quite vehemently with me that the limits were 50 on a single and 60 on a dual, exactly as you mentioned but there were also 3-4 others (of both sexes) who backed her up. Her face when the correct answers were given was a picture but I was still quite shocked that relatively experienced drivers were so ignorant about so many facets of driving law.
And then brakes down to 20 to go past the 30MPH speed camera, followed by accelerating to 38 again after it. It is my belief that those people just dont know what speed they are doing at any point in time. I have also had a near-miss with someone doing 40mph on a motorway – my fault for not noticing i was approaching rather fast but I think 40 on a busy motorway (it was rush hour but traffic was otherwise flowing freely at the time) is too slow
As you say – your fault for not noticing that you were approaching too fast. What would you do if a car had broken down – crash into it? One day I nearly had a tailgater crash into the back of me because he had not noticed the traffic on the M25 had come to a halt (not an infrequent occurrence in the rush hours). Luckily for him I had anticipated the situation and had braked gently in plenty of time so was able to release my brakes and give the idiot more space. No doubt the impatient drivers who moan about slow drivers will say I should have driven like them – faster, braked hard and been shunted into the line of stationery cars!
Hi Philip,
I had a similar experience in the Netherlands. A sudden torrential downpour, giving zero visibility, resulted in every single car on a dual-carriageway smashing into the car in front! Around a 50 car pile-up! When the Police arrived, they found only my car was undamaged. I’d allowed breaking distance for myself and the tailgating idiot behind. I was driving defensively (slower than I could have), so should the Police have given me a ticket?
Maybe you were the idiot at the front driving too slowly and causing the pile up
I don’t agree. They must know they are travelling too fast at some point or why would they slow down for the gatso?
I think the issue is that they have no idea whether they are over the speed limit or not so just brake hard instinctively in case they are.
I agree, I regularly drive between Sheffield and Skegness and the number of drivers who drive at 40 mph on 60 mph roads is ridiculous. The stretch between Louth and Skegness is a particularly bad road for safe overtaking when stuck behind a local yokel driving at between 35 & 40 mph. You can always tell one coming towards you by the number of cars and lorries trailing in convoy. I can understand it when it’s a horse box or tractor but a modern car can easily travel at 60, it’s the driver who’s at fault and not fit to drive.
Nonsense!
The “local yokel” is driving within his ability. He/She should drive beyond his/her safety limits because you’re in a hurry?
Yes, it is frustrating, but try chilling out.
I actually changed my v.fast car for a truck. Not being able to break any speed limits nor worrying about trying to go as fast as possible fantastically reduced my stress levels.
And my journey times only increased by a couple of minutes.
One thing to remember. All human drivers make mistakes and it is easier to correct your own or to avoid other peoples if you are mot driving hard up to the MAXIMUM speed limit
Re: slow driving, living in a rural area I frequently come across a driver coasting along at 35-40mph, where it is safe to do a steady 50mph, only to maintain this speed when going through a 30mph limit…! Not a speed camera in sight!
They’re probably on their phone or texting!
Slow driving, i.e. more than 20% below the speed limit, should only be considered acceptable when the road conditions dictate caution. The number of near miss incidents on major roads increases year on year and it cannot be a coincidence that there are more and more elderly drivers on the road who become oblivious to the impact they have on the road. I believe there should be a mandatory retest to establish driving competence every 5 years from the age of 65. You only need to experience the elderly on escalators or shopping isles when they suddenly stop, wandering which way to go and block the exit. I include myself as now being elderly at 64 but am very conscious of the impact my actions have on others.
I’m 70. I now have to renew my licence every 3 years. I have completed during my lifetime several driving courses including the IAM and a course on defensive driving ( both very worthwhile). I voluntarily recently asked a driving school to reassess my driving to find out if there was any area I need to take instruction on. As my husband has several long term conditions, and struggles with public transport, it’s really important for me to stay on the road. I believe that everyone should be reassessed at regular intervals. There are some genuinely atrocious younger drivers, as there are those who want to rule the road, and those who are elderly. Bad driving doesn’t just come with age. It’s there in every age group. There are also occasions of “a perfect storm” where accidents happen because of one “wrong” decision. It’s impossible to legislate for everything, but learning courtesy and consideration for other road users should be key. It’s something that’s sadly lacking.
Don’t keep blaming older drivers. Younger drivers make serious mistakes too due to inexperience, over confidence, etc.
Just recently as a passenger with my wife driving between 60/65mph we came upon the M25 junction with the M26. Few cars on the road and we we in the middle lane awaiting to move over to take the Sevenoaks/Maidstone direction (M26) I have a rear view mirror and noticed a car coming very fast down the outside lane. I warned my wife to hold the lane until the car had passed. We we getting very close to the cut off point & heavy white lines. Unfortunately the speeding car, my estimation 85mph realised he was about to miss the M25 turn off and braked heavily, eventually matching our speed by the offside rear wing. He then swung passed the back and up onto the M25. He made it just and caused us to stay with the M25 and miss our turnoff. This could easily have been an accident, in one instant due to excessive speed and the second attributing factor our lower speed, creating a larger speed difference for the speeding driver. It takes two to have an accident and in this case I feel we saved the moment. But it has caused me to think how we go into this situation, would it have happened if we were going at 70mph? Also perhaps due to a lack of experience at this junction for my wife.
David stop being a control freak! Why the mirror on the passenger side of the car? If you had left your wife alone you could have safely made the junction. You say 60-65 in the middle lane, were you overtaking? If not you should have already been in the nearside lane indicating for the exit, the fact a car was approaching at speed in the third lane would have been of no consequence to you. You caused the problem by telling you wife to stay in the middle lane, his speed was nothing to do with you. Try having more confidence in your wife’s driving or drive yourself! A car is designed to be driven by one person, not two! Your interference caused hesitancy and confusion, I suggest you keep your gob shut or take a bus. One of these days your wife will drag you out of the car and leave you standing at the side of the road – hopefully!
Not to sure what you mean by Middle lane as approaching this M25/M26 junction it is four lanes and well signposted at least a mile in advance if not more, two lanes for the M25 and two lanes for the M26/M20/A21 you should have been in the third lane so allowing two lanes for the M25 on your left as signposted and a lane outside you on the right for any subsonic lunatic desperate to pass etc so I am not sure how you ended up staying on the M25 possibly as you acknowledge lack of experience in reading the road signs and road position
Its slow driving on motorways that is dangerous. If everyone is doing 70-80 and theres some jocker doing 50 in the middle lane then accodents will happen. Its about time they introduced motorway driving on the test. Like in Germany they do not get their full license until they have completed 2 hours of motorway driving with an instructor. Most people in this country still believe the nearest left lane is the slow lane so they hog the middle. Ridiculous.
Hi, have you seen the standard of driving /teaching by so called instructors!!
I have a friend who is a driving instructor & she tells me that the aim of most instructors is to get the pupil through the driving test, how they drive is not a problem just pass the test.
I did a police run driving course some years back & the officer told me the nearside lane on a motorway is the DRIVING lane the other lanes are for overtaking,far too many drivers sit in the middle lane with nothing in the nearside lane for miles just too lazy to drive properly and as such in my opinion should have their licence removed.The standard of driving is shocking.
The most frustrating is when someone is doing less than 60 in the middle lane of a 3 lane motorway/dual carriageway and you are towing. There is no way you can pass them legally!
I’ve driven in many countries in Europe and believe motorway driving is far superier to the UK. I’m really not sure where the slow lane education came from but its my biggest bug bear. Friend of mine drives in the middle lane as he says he cant be bothered to keep indicating and changing lanes every time he comes accross someone in the “slow lane”. Its called ‘driving’ right? I’ve had many arguments with him but he still does it.
Not helped by the number of times in many media articles and motoring tv shows when the inside lane is still referred to as “the slow lane” and outside lanes as “the fast lanes”
Now AI is becoming a reality, safety cameras should become a lot smarter in the near future. They’ll all be networked and any upgrades will be to software done over-the-air, much like Tesla are doing with their cars now. Using AI, they’ll be able to check a lot more than speed. I’m taking things like seatbelts, mobile phones, lane hogging, tailgating. Getting away with speeding will be a lot more difficult too, as the cameras would all be networked making average speed checks possible across whole regions. They would also know traffic levels and therefore if excessively slow driving is justified.
If it’s justified it isn’t excessive. As to the rest of your scenario, bring it on – especially spotting mobile phone users!
Just last night I was behind someone doing 35 on a road where the limit is 60. It was very frustrating but with bends and blind summits far too dangerous to over take. These people are a menace.
If there is a blind summit or a blind bend speed must be reduced. Many drivers take blind bends hoping there is nothing around the corner, ie accident, cyclist, sheep etc etc.
Oh really! And how many times do you come across farm animals of any description on any road these days? In over 45 years of driving, up to 50,000 miles a year, I can count on one hand those occasions, and then only on rural roads, very well sign posted to that effect.
Round here all the time. Cows for milking. Loose sheep. And innumerable large tractors and trailers round blind corners taking up the whole of the road. At least once a week.
You have to drive with the ability to stop in an emergency.
It depends where you’re driving. There’s a B road near me where sheep, dogs – and the occasional llama – are wandering around on a regular basis. If you’re local, you keep a good look out and slow down – if you’re not, you could be doing 60 mph – and end up in a ditch.
Watch out for me please.